The Democratic Republic of Congo is a country rich in natural resources, especially minerals. But it also has significant oil reserves, which the government is eager to exploit. The central African nation is planning to auction off 30 oil and gas blocks across the country, hoping to boost its economic growth and reduce its dependence on foreign aid.
However, some communities, rights groups and environmentalists are worried that the expansion of oil drilling will have devastating consequences for the environment and human health. They point to the existing oil operations in the western province of Kongo Central, where the French-British company Perenco has been extracting oil since 2000.
Residents of Moanda, a town near the Atlantic coast, say that oil pollution has worsened over the years, affecting their soil, crops, water and air quality. They accuse Perenco of using outdated and harmful extraction methods, such as flaring, which is the intentional burning of natural gas near drilling sites. They also claim that the government has failed to regulate and monitor the oil industry, and to protect their rights and interests.
Perenco denies any wrongdoing, saying that it follows international standards and that its operations do not pose any health risks. The company also says that it has offered to support a power plant that would use the natural gas and reduce flaring. The government did not respond to questions about the proposed plant.
Congo’s minister of hydrocarbons, Didier Budimbu, says that the government is committed to protecting the environment and that it will ensure that the new oil and gas blocks are developed in a sustainable and responsible way. He says that the country needs to diversify its economy and create jobs for its people, many of whom live in poverty and insecurity.
Congo is home to most of the Congo Basin rainforest, the world’s second-largest, and most of the world’s largest tropical peatland, which are wetlands made up of partially decomposed plant material. Both ecosystems store huge amounts of carbon dioxide, which helps to mitigate climate change. More than a dozen of the oil and gas blocks up for auction overlap with protected areas in the peatlands and rainforests, including the Virunga National Park, which is home to some of the world’s rarest gorillas.
Environmental groups say that opening up more land for oil drilling would have disastrous effects both in Congo and globally. They warn that oil spills, leaks, flares and deforestation would destroy biodiversity, release greenhouse gases, and increase the risk of conflicts and human rights violations.
They urge the government to cancel the oil and gas auction and to invest instead in renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind and hydro, which are abundant and clean. They also call on the international community to support Congo’s efforts to conserve its natural heritage and to promote its social and economic development.
They say that Congo has a unique opportunity to become a leader in the fight against climate change and to show the world that it is possible to achieve prosperity without sacrificing the environment and the well-being of its people.
Source: AP News
